Ivory Coast

04.08.11

Ouattara Wants Sanctions Lifted

Hereward Holland, Reuters / Landov,HEREWARD HOLLAND

With his rival, strongman Laurent Gbagbo, holed up in the presidential residence in Abidjan, Alassane Ouattara seems to be turning to the business of governing. In an attempt to restart the Ivory Coast's ailing economy, Ouattara, the U.N.-recognized winner of the presidential election, is asking the European Union to lift sanctions. The Ivory Coast is the world's biggest cocoa producer, but the industry has been hurt by the recent political violence over the disputed election. Ouattara doesn't have full control over Abidjan, however, where Gbagbo remains defiant and where days of fighting threaten to create a humanitarian crisis in the city. Residents there are without running water and power and they're running low on food.